Habana fit for historic Test in Mendoza

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 22: Bryan Habana during the South African national rugby team captains run at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on June 22, 2012 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Habana and Boks captain Jean de Villiers are the only team-members to play in Argentina

THE SPRINGBOK team preparing for the second Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday received a huge boost when Bryan Habana was declared fit to start on Wednesday.

Habana, the most experienced member of the squad with 78 Tests for South Africa, rolled his left ankle against Argentina in Cape Town last weekend and passed a fitness test on Wednesday morning. That means the backline is unchanged from the one that beat Argentina by 27-6 at Newlands.

The Springboks will start the match with a combined total of 412 Test Caps – 130 of those in the forwards and 282 in the backs.

“Having Bryan is obviously a big boost as we’ve lost a number of players with lots of experience after JP Pietersen, Pierre Spies and Bismarck du Plessis already had to withdraw from our squad,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

Upfront there are two changes and positional shift. Adriaan Strauss replaces the injured Bismarck du Plessis at hooker and takes over the vice-captaincy, while Jacques Potgieter is promoted from the bench to start at blindside flank. Willem Alberts moves to No 8 with Keegan Daniel on the bench.

New alongside Daniel on the bench is Tiaan Liebenberg (hooker), who will make his Springbok Test debut if he gets game time as a replacement.

Two forwards who were doubtful earlier in the week, Andries Bekker (lock) and Marcell Coetzee (flank), both passed fitness tests. Bekker left the field at Newlands with an ankle injury and Coetzee suffered a slight twinge to his groin at training earlier in the week.

“It was a difficult decision between Jacques and Keegan, but we have gone with horses for courses this time,” said Meyer. “We’re expecting it will be very physical early in the game and it might open up later, which perfectly suits the strongpoints of both Jacques and Keegan.

“The Pumas also mauled quite well in Cape Town and we were not happy with the defence of their mauls, so with the extra weight Jacques brings, we will have to ensure we stop their drives.

“Argentina played a very physical game in Cape Town – as we expected – and they will step it up this weekend in front of their home fans. It will be a very tough Test and we need to be 100% switched on.”